NRS-10871 | Records of an Inquiry under Section 19 of the Ombudsman Act, concerning alleged inadequate maintenance procedures by the Electricity Commission at Liddell Power Station

Full description

Under Section 19 of the Ombudsman Act, the Ombudsman is empowered to make or hold inquiries, with the powers, authorities, protections and immunities conferred on a Commissioner by Division 1 of Part II of the Royal Commissions Act, 1923.

Following complaints concerning problems with electrical power supplied to New South Wales, particularly from Liddell Power Station, the Ombudsman held an inquiry into alleged inadequate maintenance procedures by the Electricity Commission at that power station.

The terms of reference of the Inquiry were:

1. The general inspection and maintenance procedures adopted by the Commission in relation to power stations under its management and control since 1 July 1975
2. In particular, without limiting the generality of
   a) the inspection and maintenance procedures adopted with respect to the four 500 megawatt turbine generating sets at Liddell Power Station since 1 July 1975
   b) whether the inspection and maintenance procedures utilised at the Liddell Power Station in respect of turbine generating sets since 1 July 1975, complied with reasonable standards
   c) the measures taken with the intention of preventing malfunctioning of turbine generating sets at Liddell Power Station including planning and/or implementation of a programme of routine maintenance
   d) measures adopted to ensure the completion of any such regular routine maintenance programme
   e) the abandonment of any such programme once implemented
   f) the failure to implement such a programme once planned.

The records of the Inquiry include: transcripts; exhibits (including photographs); annual reports; reports by specialists; Report of the Committee into Liddell generator failures, March 1982; information collated by the Electricity Commission and others in response to a request by the Ombudsman; submissions; Coalfields Stations' Conference minutes; power bulletins; operation log books and press clippings.


(11/5772-87). 16 boxes.

Note:
This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.